Subject: River Run 2003
Date: 6/17/2003

Hi All!

This River Run was different from the others...at least for me. It started like any upcoming event. I look at the date...think whether I can make it...pay the money...then put it out of my mind, because the likelihood that I will get sent somewhere is considerable. Don Gallo's E-mail asked if I would be driving solo. I said, "Yes, (and then gave my standard reply) unless you can get someone for me?"

Note: My standard reply comes more as an involuntary reflex than from thought. I usually hint for a copilot from friends, but never expect any. Most people do not like setting friends up for blind dates/rides because they want to still have friends.

I got an E-mail reply from Don stating that he would ask his sister if she would like to attend. To which I responded:

<Don:
Be sure to fill your sister in on my personality and appearance. It could make for a long day of her (and you for eons) if she goes into this blind. Actually, I think it is pretty daring of you to even suggest the idea. Either you love your sister and you know what a good time she will have or...you're trying to get back at her for something, and this is the ultimate way. For as you suspect, I'm sure to hit some furry/feathery creature during the drive Let me know if she will/will not be my copilot. I don't want to bring the stuff that I would normally put in the front seat. Oh, Tony said he will be flying solo also. Maybe if she's thinking, "I'm not sure?" with me, she will say, "Sounds great!" if she rides with Tony. All women love Tony.>

Well, after a bit, I receive another E-mail from Don that stated, "Believe it or not, she is coming. Clean off your front seat." The thought, "Beware of what you wish for..." comes to mind, and "What's the best way to loose weight in a couple of days!" (Now before you go off the deep end Larry, remember, this is not a date. It is a passenger wanting to enjoy the River Run) With things in proper perspective, I pack for the event. Meanwhile, I receive an E-mail from Don L requesting a ride during the event, as his NSX has not been repaired. Depending on Don's sister's choice, he will be able to ride with one of us.

The plan is to meet Tony and proceed to Don's as a flight of two. As I near Tony, I call on my cell phone to hear his status. I'm running later than I preferred so I suggest that he meet me on I-78. (Tony claims that I'm just avoiding going into his driveway because of fear of dragging the front bumper on entry.) Tony decides I am far enough away to allow him time to fuel. A later position report finds us equally near the intercept point. I pass the entrance of SR 33 onto I-78 first and look in the rearview mirror for Tony's approach. I spy Tony, we hook up, and continue to Don's.

As we near Don's home, I decide to take a little used short cut to "Bogart Court." The road turned to dirt, then to dirt with pot holes. Tony is still behind me, but is falling back. Not seeing a reason to turn around, we continue in first gear using the whole width of the road to avoid obstacles. We turn onto Bogart, drive around the circle, and back into the driveway. There are already three cars in the driveway parked perpendicular to Don's stated parking method. I stop short of them and Tony parks in front of me, gets out of his car and asks why I didn't back all the way to the end of the driveway? I told him that I didn't want to block the other cars in, but the looks from Tony and the others insinuate that I made the wrong decision. So I backed up further and Tony parked next to my front bumper. Tony and I walked over for introductions and the first few people to introduce themselves were named Mike. So I introduced ourselves as Mike also, which brought weird looks (then I stated our real names). When more arrived, I introduced everyone as Mikes and Michelle. Which brought on more confusion. (That's my job :-))

More people started to arrive and spontaneous conversations erupted with ease. One thing that has always been present in the NSX club, is the ease that new people fit in to the group (which turned out to be almost half of those attending). Don was still in the process of setting up for the event and asked for my assistance. While helping I asked if his sister was here. He said no, but she should arrive shortly. As I mingled amongst the participants, a woman arrived who appeared to be unaccompanied. Not wanting to be forward and say you must be my copilot (while her husband glared at me from behind), I decided to wait. We both kind of stared at each other and it appeared that it was Don's sister, Ellen Gallo. I heard she had seen my e-mail to Don about making her aware of what she was getting into, so I asked her, "Would you like to ride with eligible bachelor number 1, 2, or 3? (Pointing to Tony, Don, and myself who were standing together) She smiled and said she would stay with me. We chitchatted for a bit until Don gathered us around for a driver's meeting. The meeting included the usual. Be safe; it's not a race; the club is not responsible for your actions; and the order of events. Don asked who had club radios? Only a few raised their hands. (someone commented on how it use to be the other way around) How many have cell phones? This time more raised their hands. Don then asked who had both? I knew what was coming, so I raised my hand in back of Don where he wouldn't see it. But he knew I had both, and he knew I would have a copilot, so it was inevitable that I would be requested to lead one run group. Being the generous person that I am, I told Ellen she was in charge of navigation and if the group got lost...it would be all her fault! She said it was the first time she had done this type of thing. I assured her she would do fine and smiled. (I'm sure she felt I was trying to comfort her, but I was just happy that the pressure was off me!)

Ellen and I were to lead the second run group. We lined up in the road with Don leading the first run group and Dawna (Don's wife) bringing up the rear to police up stragglers, and because she was on call at the hospital, she would be able to break away from the group without a bunch of NSXs following her. By the second stop sign, our group got split from Don's run group due to traffic, so Ellen and I became responsible for the safe arrival of our group. (Ya, right) This would not normally be a problem except we are still conversing while leading the group.

Let me tell you the significance of conversation while I drive. Although it isn't an issue when I fly, but when driving, if someone asks a question, I try to give a thoughtful answer (No, I don't give thoughtless answers while I fly). Consequently, I stop navigating (ask my son or Susan Porter). So what happens when the first turn comes up on the route? Yup, we drive right by. Ellen says, "I think we should have turned back there?" I look in the rear view mirror and see 4 NSXs blindly following us like lemmings over a cliff (what solidarity). I heard Dawna's voice over the club radio confirming Ellen's thoughts. We turn around at a convenient spot, back track, and proceed on the correct road. When we get to the next turn, the same thing happens again. Ellen is trying to apologize for her navigation, but I assure her she is doing fine and getting lost is half the fun. We institute a navigation system that allows us not to miss another turn. The midpoint of the drive is a tour/wine tasting event at Alba Vineyard. (makes sense to me, wine plus testosterone NSX drivers equals??) As we pull into the vineyard parking area there are no other NSXs in sight so I interrupt Ellen's conversation and ask if there are more directions? "Oh, sorry," was the reply as she looks on the direction sheet and reads the directions to the back lot. As we crest the hill, we see the other cars and take our place among them.

People asked what happened to us? I immediately blamed Don Gallo. I stated that after we stopped following his group, navigation went fine! So it must have been his fault. They didn't buy that answer so I explained it was like any new relationship. First there's lots of conversation, then the relationship goes stale, thus we could pay attention to navigation. But I figured after we got liquored up, we would have more stuff to talk about. (Actually, Ellen was very fun to be with. We just put priority on navigation instead of conversation.)

We received a tour of the establishment before we sat at the tables for the wine tasting event. I sat with the Gallo's. Conversation was great and never dragged. I took several pictures during the tasting, but they didn't come out very well, as many had their eyes closed or appeared as if they were drunk. (Humm?)

The trip back to the Gallo's went well with a particular section of road allowing us to do fast uninterrupted cruising. We aligned our cars on their lawn for a photo shoot and then had lunch. Lunch consisted of a variety of meats, fruits, deserts, which were very tasty. There was a drawing for door prizes.

I think this years event out did the previous River Run (and it wasn't just because I had a lovely copilot). Everyone had fun, there were no accidents, and no ticket's during the drive...only after

Many thanks to the Gallo's for hosting another successful River Run and for introducing new people to our group. Also, thanks to Ellen for taking time from her busy schedule to participate in her brother's event and for being an excellent copilot. Hope you will join us for other events.

Larry G.